On July 20, 1969, the whole world held its breath as one man stepped off the Apollo 11 spacecraft and into a new era of human’s space exploration. The Apollo/Saturn V Center pays homage to the people and machines that made the improbable possible and the future seem bigger than we ever dared to dream. Start your journey as you witness history from your seat in front of actual consoles from NASA’s 1960s Firing Room. Step out of the Firing Room Theater to feel dwarfed by the sheer size and power of the Saturn V rocket as you walk underneath it. Then, do what others have only imagined as you touch a real Moon rock and get an up-close look at the Moon dust that traveled home on Alan Shepard’s Moon suit. Relive the wonder and excitement of the Apollo era in this one-of-a-kind exhibit that celebrates the unprecedented achievement of putting a man on the Moon and the joy felt in that moment by all humankind. `
Firing Room Theater
Take a tour of Apollo history inside our authentic recreation of NASA’s 1960s Firing Room, featuring actual Apollo-era consoles.
Saturn V Rocket
Stand in awe beneath this 36-story-tall, completely restored Saturn V rocket – a testimony to human engineering and determination. One of only three Saturn Vs in the world, the rocket underwent massive restoration after sitting outside of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building until the mid-1990s. It was rescued, restored and finally relocated to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Here you’ll learn about how the rocket was assembled, its design, testing and more.
Apollo Command/Service Module and Capsule
The Command/Service Module and capsule displayed here were built for a Skylab rescue mission and were once attached to the Saturn 1-B rocket located in the Rocket Garden. During the building of Orion, NASA astronauts took apart this very Command/Service Module and capsule to study and learn from its technology. Although the Service Module was never inhabited by the Apollo astronauts, it was one of the most important components of the spacecraft, carrying the main engine and providing water, oxygen and electricity to the Command Module.
Fisher Space Pen
Learn the history of the iconic Astronaut Space Pen that has flown on every crewed space mission since Apollo 7. The pen can write upside down, under water and in extreme temperatures.
The People’s Moon
The People’s Moon is a digital art piece creating an image of the Moon using a collection of photographs from the Apollo program. Take a self-portrait at the iPad station to be a part of this ever-changing mural.
Meet the Astronauts
Step up and meet the men who made history in this interactive kiosk featuring the astronauts of the Apollo program.
The Right Stuff
Located at Apollo/Saturn V Center, this shop offers Moon landing souvenirs and Apollo program memorabilia.
Mobile Equipment Transporter
Take a look at the Mobile Equipment Transporter, one of the tools astronauts used on the Moon to carry the equipment they’d need to conduct science experiments. Mission: Apollo 14.
Apollo Treasures Gallery
Get up close and personal with developmental spacesuits, the Kitty Hawk Command Module and other authentic artifacts of the Apollo Moon missions.
Apollo 14 Kitty Hawk Capsule
Coming home from space is no easy task, but the Kitty Hawk capsule rose to the challenge. View the capsule that traveled more than 500,000 miles to deliver the Apollo 14 crew, along with over 100 pounds of Moon rocks, back home safely.
Lunar Sample 15058.187.023
Collected during the Apollo 17 mission, this lunar sample is estimated to be 3.7 billion years old!
Ed White’s NASA Exceptional Service Medal
Ed White made the United States’ first spacewalk on June 3, 1965, during the Gemini 4 mission. White was scheduled to fly again on Gemini 10, but instead accepted a promotion to join the Apollo 1 prime crew. He died with his crewmates in the fire that engulfed the Apollo 1 capsule.
Alan Shepard’s Spacesuit
A hidden gem of the Apollo Treasures Gallery, this stop is not to be missed. Look closely at this suit worn by astronaut Alan Shepard and you’ll see that it’s covered by a fine gray powder. That’s Moon dust! It settled on the suit during a moonwalk and made the journey back to Earth on Apollo 14’s return mission.
James Lovell’s Apollo 13 Flight Suit
View the actual flight suit worn by Apollo 13 Commander James Lovell aboard the ill-fated Odyssey spacecraft. Although the Apollo 13 crew never landed on the Moon, NASA considered the mission a “successful failure” when the crew splashed down safely in the South Pacific.
Gene Cernan’s Training Spacesuit
This spacesuit was used for training at Kennedy Space Center. It is one of three custom suits made for Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan.
Pair of RX-1 Arms
These prototype spacesuit arms were developed for an advanced Apollo suit called the RX-1. Featuring “hard joints,” the arms were developed by NASA to reduce astronaut fatigue and increase mobility.
John Young’s Cuff Checklist and Penlight
The pages shown on this cuff checklist, worn by astronaut John Young on his Apollo 16 moonwalk, offer moon-walking astronauts a reminder on how to collect rock samples on the lunar surface.
Spacesuit Maintenance Kit
See an example of the kit used by Apollo and Skylab astronauts to make minor repairs while in space.
Lunar Sample Bag Dispenser
The Apollo program spacesuits were restrictive, making it hard for astronauts to do everyday tasks. This is a special tool designed to assist astronauts in collecting lunar rock and soil.
Television Camera
The Apollo 7 mission brought many firsts, among them the first television broadcast of astronauts in space to the American public. This camera captured live video of the Apollo 7 astronauts that was shared with an eager public each morning during the “Wally, Walt and Donn Show.”
Extra Vehicular Activity Training Gloves
View the gloves used by astronaut Buzz Aldrin to train for the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
Commander’s A7L Visor Assembly
View the different layers of shades built into Apollo spacesuit helmets in order to protect astronauts from harmful light.
Moon Rock Containment Vessels
Get a closer look at the containers designed to protect Moon rocks from damage and contamination while being transported here on Earth.
Apollo 13 Command/Service Module Rescue Book
See the manual, signed by Mission Commander James Lovell that was used as a reference throughout the Apollo 13 crisis.
Apollo 13 Appreciation Plaque
In appreciation “for a job well done,” the Apollo 13 crew presented this plaque to Kennedy Space Center personnel in 1970. It features a piece of the armrest of Lunar Module Aquarius (LM-7). Despite hardship, the crew returned safely and the mission was termed “a successful failure.”
Apollo 7 Flight Plan
Take a look at the flight plan for Apollo 7, America’s first three-person space mission.
Prototype Spacesuits
These prototypes showcase NASA’s experimental designs and demonstrate the evolution of the spacesuit leading up to what would be the final spacesuit for the Apollo missions.
Touch a Moon Rock
You may not have been to space, but you can still touch the Moon at our hands-on display featuring a real Moon rock!
Moonscape
See the real Lunar Module 9 with a life-sized scene from the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Gain a better understanding of this vehicle and how to land it on foreign terrain
Moon Landing Newspaper Gallery
When humans landed on the Moon, the whole world celebrated together. Here, see how newspapers across the globe joined in the celebration, announcing one of mankind’s greatest achievement.
Lunar Module 9 (LM-9)
Displayed on a moonscape under the nose end of the Saturn V rocket is Lunar Module 9 (LM9). This lunar module was originally selected to carry David Scott and James Irwin to the surface of the Moon for the Apollo 15 mission. However, when NASA decided to equip Apollo 15 and the following missions with Lunar Roving Vehicles (LRV), a new LM was created with the capacity to stow an LRV.
Moon Rock Cafe
Lunch among Apollo spacecraft and treasures at the Apollo/Saturn V Center after your Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour with indoor and outdoor seating.
Astronaut Transfer Van
Peer into the Astronaut Van, a specially outfitted van that was used throughout the Apollo missions to transport fully suited astronauts to the launch pad. The van you see on display carried some very famous names, including Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin.
Launch Umbilical Tower
Walk the length of the Saturn V rocket to find the Launch Umbilical Tower, just as it would be for liftoff. Though massive, the small section displayed here is just the top of what was a 380-foot steel structure designed to provide service support and access to the rocket.
Lunar Theater
Step into the Lunar Theater for Loss of Signal – Columbia. Relive the story of Apollo 11 and the harrowing landing that marked man’s first journey to the Moon. This dramatic and rarely told tale culminates with a lunar landing right inside the theater!
Skylab Multiple Docking Adapter
Get a close-up look at the equipment that allowed the Apollo module to dock to Skylab with this multiple docking adapter replica.
Lunar Module (LM) Cockpit
Peer inside the Lunar Module cockpit, which housed all controls necessary to maneuver the vehicle during decent, ascent and docking.
Moon Buggy (Lunar Roving Vehicle)
Dune buggy. Moon buggy. Lunar rover. Whatever you call it, it’s an iconic part of American history. This four-wheeled, battery-powered vehicle is made from surplus parts to be an exact recreation of the one used in the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions. When in use on the Moon, the lunar rover could reach speeds of up to 12 miles an hour and carry 1,000 pounds.
Saturn V Cutaway Model
Peer inside the Saturn V with the help of this cut-away model, displaying the internal workings of the Service Module, Command Module, engines and more.
Virtual Space Photo Kiosk
Let your imagination take off at our Virtual Space Photo Kiosk. Choose your background and we’ll create a custom souvenir featuring you as the astronaut. It is an out-of-this-world keepsake you’re sure to treasure.
3D Hologram Projectors
These 3D Hologram Projectors were installed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. Get engaged by watching the projections that encapsulate key parts of the Apollo missions. Interact with these displays and listen to the narration to enhance your learning of the Apollo program.
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Honor the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee in The Apollo 1 Tribute, Ad Astra Per Aspera – A Rough Road Leads to the Stars. This tribute shares mementos of the fallen Apollo 1 astronauts’ lives and reminds us of their sacrifice. Generations of people around the world will learn who these brave astronauts were and how their legacies live on through the Apollo successes and beyond.
Moon Tree Garden
Take a moment to relax and reflect on the incredible achievements of humankind in the Moon Tree Garden. These second-generation trees are direct descendants of seeds that were taken to the Moon by Apollo 14 Astronaut Stuart Roosa. The 12 trees represent the 12 crewed Apollo missions.
Rocket Mortgage Statue
In the center of the Moon Tree garden is a one-of-a-kind bronze statue of Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. The statue was created by sculptors George Lundeen, Mark Lundeen and Joey Bainer, and is on loan to the visitor complex from Rocket Mortgage® by Quicken Loans.